how do you decide between oval vs round dutch oven?
19883
I do lot's of chilli on the stove top and since the burners are round, I went w/ the round base model. If you're going to do casserole in the oven, perhaps a oval model would work well.
19884
The oval one is meant for longer portions of food such as chickens, roast or longer sausages, which would not fit well in a round.
79480
I use the 7 1/2 quart dutch oven for everything and I usually cook for 2 people. I live with my husband, and the dutch oven is great for making soups, stews, sauces, chili, spaghetti, and I even use it for stir-fry dishes. You can definitely fry chicken for four people in it. I like this size because I can make a full recipe of things like chili in it, and I usually have leftovers when it's just the two of us. For four people, we'll eat the whole thing!
1156922
I bought mine a little over a year ago and it is more square than round. I don't know which version/shape provides more surface area for cooking. I don't see a downside to either version. No hot or cool spots. All things being equal, the heating source is the key to success. The slightly square version fits nicely and is stable on my portable gas grill.
1527002
This slow cooker is oval. It's a great slow cooker & it's large enough to handle almost any family sized meal. Love it!
2261513
Both are very high quality ranges. I would say the pros and cons are mostly based on if you prefer to bake (double ovens are better) or cook on the stovetop (induction is better).
711211
I have both sizes. I find that I use the 7 qt. far more than the 5 qt. Make that far, far more. In fact, the only thing I really use the 5 qt for is making No-Knead Bread. For stew, chili, soups and such I find that the "floor space" of the larger oven is much more useful for browning the meats and veggies. It is heavy, but really not too hard to maneuver, and I'm a scrawny 61- year old male. The oven itself lives in the oven of my range, oiled and ready to go. In answer to T R D's question, you could use the spiral handle ears for handles if you wished. I do that with my 5 qt oven. If I could have only one, I'd go with the larger Dutch Oven.
593466
The rack inside this oven is round and you have two height options. This is an excellent microwave and convection oven. I use both ways frequently. The added bonus is it is very quiet. You will not regret this purchase if it is in your budget.
1389656
The manufacturer website has a sizing guide and template for you to use: http://www.3pointproducts.com/choosing-the-correct-oval-8-/
1192365
The corners are rounded and sides are tapered. In comparison, I also have a pair of Wilton square cake pans and they have true squared corners and straight sides.
2030355
I do not have the round pan. I have the meatloaf or loaf pan and the sides are smooth and the bottom has ridges. I have the bundt pan which is smooth and the muffin pan which is smooth.
61920
Its easy. Apply your choice of grease or baking spray and pour in your desired batter. Place the remaining pan (the one with the hole in it) on top and close/secure with clasps. Don't worry if you have slippage while cooking, you can take it off when cool. Depending how much you place in the pan your circle may look like an oval! I didn't use the included sticks only because I used lollipop sticks.
1183130
Dutch ovens are great for lots of stuff. Anything from pasta sauce to stews and soups. You can also deep-fry in it, and bake things, like bread. Because it's cast iron the heat distribution is always generally even, and because it's iron, it retains heat quite well. For frying, it's easier to clean than an electric deep-fryer, even if you do need a bit of extra "tech" to go with it - basically you should have a candy/frying thermometer and a splatter shield, preferably. Fried chicken in a cast iron dutch oven comes out spectacular, as does a good beef stew or fresh marinara sauce. Can also make killer baked beans, too. Also it's handy for pot roasts, roast chicken, roast duck...the list goes on. Also, unlike with aluminum or steel pots, you can toss this right on the campfire if you do that outdoorsy thing, and slow cook there too. It's one of the original kitchen multitaskers, heh. You may also wish to look at the enameled versions. To clarify: this is basically the same pot that you see if you've ever watched food network, and they're cooking/roasting meat or veggies in a large and colorful enameled pot - those are cast iron too, actually. The Lodge one is that dutch oven naked. The enamel does add some convenience, (washing it in soap won't destroy the coating for instance), but you pay a hefty price for it. Le Creuset is one of the more famous makers, if you wanted to check out some examples. They work great, don't get me wrong, but I've never wanted to pay $200+ for a dutch oven, though Lodge makes cheaper enameled ones now. Plain 'ol cast iron works just as well for the most part, though the enamel has its perks, for sure. I consider them fairly interchangeable, but I imagine in particulars they may not be. I haven't owned any of the Le Creuset stuff (but I've used it - its nice), so I don't know which is better long-term, ultimately. Both will probably outlive you by quite a bit, though, so would be a good investment. I defer to people with more enameled dutch oven experience than I, though. :)
1428720
Amazon obviously screwed up on dimensions. I have both, and they're both #12's, the only difference is the 8 quart is the #12 DEEP. Use depends on whether baking or "stewing". The more shallow 6 quart is perfect for sourdough biscuits, (or biscuits in general). I do more baking than stewing and find the "deep" ovens perfect for raised breads. (Read my review of Lodge's 2 quart Dutch oven.)
82767
Try one of the Imusa casseroles. Imusa Enamel Dutch Oven, 4.5 Quart, TurquoiseThey don't do heat diffusion very well (you will appreciate the difference when you get the LC), but they have the same easy-to-clean enamel advantage, they're made in Mexico, not China, and for the price of a LC dutch oven you could buy ten of them.
1749854
You could probably do it if you knew what you were doing, but I do know that Lodge sells flat bottom dutch ovens. You may want to look at those first.
2051152
I just found out what a Dutch Oven is. My neighbor told me about it. I ordered one to cook a recipe in. Comon sense would tell you to only use utensils that do not scratch the surface. This goes for any pans that have a coating or something. I really just started cooking stuff.
1527003
It is oval, and large enough to handle most meals. Cooks evenly, but outside does get hot. So be careful.